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My Daughter's Tantrums Will Make You Feel Better About Your Toddler's Meltdowns

by Christine Fadel on September 16, 2014

Christine Fadel

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Every toddler has tantrums.

I'll repeat: Every toddler has tantrums.

Tantrums are the black cloud of toddlerhood and would try the patience of a seasoned saint. In case you need proof that tantrums really do happen to everyone, let me share with you why my daughter, Marlo, is no exception.

Marlo not only has tantrums, she prefers having them within confined modes of public transportation where there are no means of escape and provide her with the highest chance of a large viewership. This weekend, while riding the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan, she had one of those delightful little episodes. She was overtired and completely sick of her stroller, and us, for that matter. And, so, a tantrum ensued.

Our fellow train passengers were hardly amused by Marlo's little fit and did little to hide their disapproval. If anything, they put forth extra effort to loudly clear their throats and sigh a few more times than necessary, all while shooting us uncomfortable piercing glares. Like every other parent who has been in that position, I simply sat there utterly embarrassed and feverishly tried to calm my miserable child, only to no avail.

Some of her tantrums have been more impressive than others, of course. Some have even been deemed epic and award-worthy and will forever been ingrained in my memory. Once, a few months back, I was convinced that Marlo was actually possessed. I was traveling with her by myself from North Carolina to Manhattan. She was the only child on our flight, which had already been delayed for three hours. She began screaming bloody murder the second the plane's wheels left the tarmac and didn't stop until we touched down on New York asphalt.

During the entire 75-minute flight, nothing I did would soothe her. She refused to nurse, drink, or even eat her favorite snacks. She mastered the fine art of flailing, and she cried so violently that she threw up all over me.

She also gained 224 enemies in the process. Halfway through the flight, I heard a very concerned traveler comment to the person sitting beside him (and just loudly enough for me to hear), "Is she even trying to stop that brat from crying?" It was the most defeating feeling I've had in parenthood. After that horribly rude comment, I began to cry right along with her for the remainder of the flight and just continued rocking and shushing my baby girl.

But the truth is my experiences are proof that every family and every toddler has a bad day here and there and, unfortunately, no matter how many times those tantrums occur they can still manage to feel like absolute torture.

After having a few of the more impressive ones under our belt, I feel better equipped and more confident in handling those tantrums. I also know that tantrums come to an end and that glares from a few (or 224) strangers on a train or plane don't really matter.

What matters is getting my baby girl back to her happily content self.

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